Printing press water solution mixing and distributing mechanism



1965 H. w. GEGENHEIMER ETAL PRINTING PRESS WATER SOLUTION MIXING AND DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet F'lG- 5 Z M L M 3 ll|.l\\ \vf fl 2 ,v\v W i 1 0% c F'IG.2

INVENTORS HAROLD W. GEGENHEIMER AN DREW N. STAD BY PHILIP E. TOB IAS fiW M M, arm fine ATTO R N EY S 1965 H. w. GEGENHEIMER ETAL 3,

PRINTING PRESS WATER SOLUTION MIXING AND DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 14, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F I G. 3

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ATTORNEYS Jan. 19, 1965 H. w. GEGENHEIMER ETAI. 3,166,095

PRINTING PRESS WATER SOLUTION MIXING AND DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 14, 1961 TD Rain/(M 0 2 SEC. DELAY 72D. RELAY (IV-6.) 2 SEC- DLAY zowm LIMIT A T Q,

INVENTORS HAROLD w. GEGENHEIMER ANDREW N- STAB BY PHILIP E- TOBIAS ATTOR N EYS FIG-.6

United States Patent 3,166,095 PRHITING PRESS WATER SGLUTION MEGNG AND DISTRIBUTWG MECHANISM Harold W. Gegenheimer, Darien, Conn, Andrew N. tad, Syosset, N.Y., and Philip E. Tobias, Ahington, Pa, assignors to Baldwin-Gegenheimer Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 152,205 4 Claims. (Cl. 137-563) The present invention relates to a fluid mixing and distributing device and more particularly to a device for automatically mixing a solution of the proper amount of ingredients and supplying such solution to the water fountain pan of an offset printing press in a continuously flowing are-circulating system.

Offset printing presses are generally provided with a water fountain which is filled with a solution of gum arabic dissolved in water and a slight proportion of chromic or phosphoric acid. The damping rollers apply this etch and gum water solution to the non-printing portions of the printing plate onthe plate cylinder of the press thus ensuring that no ink from the inking rollers will be received on those dampened parts of the plate. The proportions of a particular etch and gum solution are dictated by a number of factors, including the type of ink used, the nature of the printed work, the color being printed, and the type of paper to be printed, to name a few.

Heretofore, an oifset press operator has had to be alert to replenish the supply of solution in the press water fountain pan since a dry-up would result in ink being applied to the non-printing portions of the printing plate, thereby spoiling a printing run.

The replenishment was generally done on a batch basis as needed and in large offset printing plants the constant replenishment of the water fountain pans was a costly, tedious and time-consuming job. Further, the manual replenishment at the water fount solution was often accompanied by accidental flooding of the water fountain pan so that an excess of solution was applied to the dampening rollers. Also, spillages of the solution occurred onto the operating portions of the press and onto the material to be printed. Such spillages of acid solution often required the press to be stopped for cleaning and generally ruined the printing material upon which it spilled. In webfed presses, spillages generally caused a break in the web material being printed. Dry-ups, spillages and flooding of the water fountain solution all contribute to increased costs of operation and reduction of printing quality.

Attempts have been made to keep the solution in the Water fountain pans replenished at a constant level by furnishing individual units for each press. These units while answering the purpose of smaller presses and printing plants, were usually of a fixed capacity and such individual units required supervision lest a particular press water fountain run dry when its associated unit was depleted. In a large printing plant or for very large presses supervision of individual units is time-consuming and tedious.

The present invention is characterized by the provision of a novel re-circulating system for the water solution running through the water fountain pan of an offset press from central supply unit which continuously and auto. matically supplies the water solution from the central supply unit to water fountains of a large press or the fountains of a number of presses. The etch and gum concentrate is placed in the supply unit, generally once every,

3,166,095 Fatented Jan. 19, 1965 1 solutionrto the water fountain pans and maintain the mined level. A liquid level control unit actuates a control circuit when the solution supply in the tank drops to a set level. The pump is stopped and the preset amount of gum concentrate is fed through the metering tank together with the entry of water from the water supply line into the solution tank. When the solution in the supply tank reaches a preset upper level, the water supply and gum concentrate supply lines are closed and the pump restarted to circulate thefresh solution mixture through the foun tains which are thus automatically maintained with a predetermined level of continuouslycirculating solution. The liquid level control unit is preset to mix relatively small batches of new solution so that a freshly mixed solution is continuously supplied to the water fountain pans.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a mechanism for maintaining a circulating supply of etch and gum water solution in a press water fountain pan, a novel control system for maintaining the supply of solution in the mechanism at preset levels, including interrupting the circulation of the solution and replenishing the supply when the supply in the mechanism drops to a preset lower level and i e-establishing the circulation of the solution when the solution supply reaches a preset upper level.

An additional object of the invention is to provide, in a device for maintaining a circulating supply of etch and gum water solution in a press water fountain pan, a novel metering tank for furnishing the. desired amount of etch and gum concentrate to the solution supply tank of the device in response to the entry of water into the supply tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, efiicient and novel device for continuously supplying etch and gum water solution to the Water fountain pans of a plurality of printing presses. a

-0ther' objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious herefrom or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out inthe appended claims.

The invention consists in novel parts,. constructions, ar-

rangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof illustrate one embodiment of the. invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; a

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the deviceshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the novel metering tank of the present invention; 1

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5--5, FIG. 4; and,

FIG. dis a schematic electrical wiring diagram of a suitable control circuit for the present invention.

' General description Referring to the drawings and specifically-to FIGS.

. compartments "24 and 26 of tank 20.

generally rectangular frame 12 supported on legs 14 at I each corner thereof and including front and rear struts 16 and 18 and side panels 17 and 19.

Unit 10 comprises a main tank 20, 'preferablyof Fiberglas or other acid resistant material, divided b'yja re-'- movable center-wall divider 22 into two separate compartments 24 and 26. Tank 26) is provided with a pe- Compartment 24 of tank 20 constitutes a storage. reservoir for holding the 'etch and gum? concentrate while compartment .26 is provided for containing' the mixed water fountain solution. Connected to compartment 26 is the main water supply line 30 through which fresh water is fed under pressure to compartment26. e

To feed the etch and gum concentrate from compartment 24 to mixing compartment 26, there is provided a suitable supply line 32 connected to the inlet of a metering tank 34. Tank 34 in turn is connected at its outlet by line 36 to Water supply line 30 through a suitable aspirator 38. I I

The solution, in turn, is fed from compartment 26 of supply tank 20 to the water fountain pan (not shown) of the presses by a suitable motor-driven centrifugal pump 40 connected to the fountain pan supply line 42. Centrifugal pump 40 and its drive motor 41 are preferably built as an integral unit and are of stainless steel or other corrosion resistant material withfpump 40 having preferably a lift of about thirty-four feet.

p In the preferred embodiment, pump 40 suppliesthe water fountain solution in a continuous circulating flow through the press pans. The returnflow from the pans is carried back to unit 10,by a suitable return line 44 which deposits the return solution into a filtering tank 46 carried in a support framed-8. Frame 48 includes a pair of side brackets 50 and 52 fixed to side panels 17 and 19, respectively, of main frame 12. The return flow of solution is deposited on to a fine mesh screen 4 removably mounted in tank 46; 'Scr-ecn 54 is opera tive to remove the sludge carriedby the solution from the press Water fountain pain before it is returned to the mixing compartment 26.- tank 46 issupported in frame 48 in inclined position such that one corner thereof is lowermost. A drain 47 -'is located at this lowermostcorner to return the filtered solution in, tank- 46 gravitating theretoward into compartment 26, thus, a recirculating flow of fresh solution is continuously supplied to the water fountain pan of the press.

Metering tank Referring specifically to FIGS. 4 and 5, metering tank 34 which precisely controls'the amount of etch and gum It will be understood that The end of shaft 60 remote from knob 64 is disposed in the enlarged end 65 of a stepped sleeve 66 coaxially fixed thereto. The narrower elongated section 67 of sleeve 66 is carried in a suitable bearing 68 in rear plate 37, and is rotatably mounted in a connector 70 carried by hearing 68 and attached to line 36.

Fixed transversely of sleeve 66 at its enlarged end 6 is a second sleeveor tube 72 whose free end is disposed adjacent the inner periphery of chamber 39 with the internal cavity '71 of sleeve '72 communicating with the internal cavity 63 of sleeve 66 and thus with line An indicator 74 is mounted transversely on shaft 60 i adjacentknob. 64 and disposed relate to the axis of shaft 69 at right angles to tube '72. (See FIG. 4.) The free end 73 of indicator 74 is adapted to travel along an indicator gauge plate 76 for positioning by'actuation of knob 64 'at the desired setting thereon of etch and gum concentrate feed.

In operation, when etch and gum concentrate is drawn out of tank 34 in response to movement of water through aspirator 38, the contents of tank 34 are drained to the 1 7 Conversely, when indicator 74is at six ounces the end 71 of tube 72 islocated at the bottom of chamber 39 so that all its contents will be drained therefrom by aspirator 38.

Intermediate settings of indicator 74 result in predetermined amounts between zero and six ounces per gallon of concentrate being-drawn from chamber 39 by the action of aspirator 38. Thus, metering tank 34 and its associated mechanism provides a simple, sure means of feeding precise amounts of concentrate from compartment 24 into mixing compartment 26 in response to the entry of water into compartment 26..

Electrical control system The cyclic operation of unit 10,, hereinafter described in. detail, is effected by the suitable electrical control and rear cover plates 35 and 37, respectively, to form a closed cylindrical chamber 39 therein."

Metering tank 34 is supported beneath tank 20 on a front bracket 56 fixed to front cover plate 35. and, in

turn, being carried by front strut 16. Rear cover plate 37 is fixed to a second bracket 58 carried by rear strut 18. Metering tank 34 is thus supported to dispose the central axis of. chamber 39 in generally horizontal plane.

7 an actuating knob .64 for reasons hereinbelow set forth.

A breather tube 61 communicates with chamber 39 to prevent. the development of an air lock therein.

system schematically illustrated in FIG. 6. This system includes three-position, control switches 191, 103, I65, I37, mounted on'control panel 99 which are, in usual operation, all on the normal position. A suitable liquid level control element res is set to interrupt the circuit energizing motor 41 of pump 40 when the fluid level in compartment 26 reaches a preset lower level B (preferably five gallons). When level B is reached, contacts 102 and 102a of element 196 are closed and 102 and 10212 are open, .Thisinterrupts the circuit energizing pump motor 41 whilecompleting a circuit energizing a normally-open solenoid valve 164 in line 32 toclose the feed of etch and gum concentrate from compartment 24to tank 34.

Simultaneously, the normally-closed'solenoid valve 106 i in line 36, between tank 34 and aspirator 38, is opened While the. normally-closed solenoid valve 168 in main .water supply 30 is also opened. The circuit to pump thus continuously fed intocompartment 26 until the preset amount of concentratefrom tank 34 has all been deposited into compartment 26'and the solution level there-1 in reaches an upper preset level A (preferably 15. gallons).

In construction, the relative sizes of the water supply line 39, line 36 and aspirator 38 are such as to insure that tank 34 will be completely drained befor'eall the required water is fed 'into compartment 26. This insures that the proper solution proportions are always maintained in each solution mixture. In normal operation, the total elapsed time for the mixing operations is approximately two minutes.

When the upper level limit A is reached, contacts 192 and 1432a are opened and contacts E92 and 19212 are closed. This interrupts the circuit energizing solenoid valves 164-, 1% and Edd, reclosing valves 1% and 168 and reopening valve res. In addition, the closing of contacts 102 and H321: re-establishes the circuit energizing pump motor 41 and solenoid valve Hi9.

To insure that valves 16 1%, 198 and H99 are not opened or closed against the action of pump 49, there is provided in the circuit actuating pump motor '41, anormally-open time delay relay 11%) which delays the reactuation of pump motor 41 for preferably two seconds after the completion of the circuit thereto. This twosecond delay is sufiicient to permit the solenoid valves to return to normal operating position without adverse effect from the action of pump 45 It will be understood that when the lower level B is reached and pump as is deactuated, no time delay is required between de-energizing of pump it? and the actuation of solenoid valves 1624, 1%, 1% and1tl9, since with the circuit to pump motor 41 interrupted, valves 1%, tea, 1% and ill? have to overcomefrom pump 4% only a ne ligible force.

To give an indication of when unit 16 is in the process of mixing a new solution, there is provided a red panel signal light 111 which is energized when contacts 1%; and lliiZa are closed. A second li ht 113 provided, preferably at the rear of the machine, and energized when element res is energized provides. an easy means for visual inspection of the levels in compartments 2-2 and 26 of opaque tank 26. Further, there is provided a normally-closed time delay relay 115 for element res. Time delay relay 115' is operative when the level of the. liquid is between limits A and B to permit resumption of pump 2% in the event switch 191 is moved to 0d position and then moved back to normal position.

A suitable liquid level control element 169 is the Versa-Tran liquid level control unit commercimly available from the Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Co., Industrial Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

During the cleaning cycle hereinafter described, switches 191, 103, 105 and 107 are moved to clean position. While element 1% is thus still actuated, contacts 102, 102a and 10211 are by-passed. The circuit completed by moving switches 191, 163, 1&5 and 1r'l7 to clean position energizes pump motor 41, actuates solenoid valve 196, and by-passes solenoid valve 117 with valves 164,198 and 109 unaifected by -t-his cleaning circuit.

Operation To start initial operation of unit 10, etch and gum concentrate is placed in compartment 24 of supply tank 29. Switches 101 and 165 are moved to normal position to fill metering tank 34 with etch and gum concentrate. When tank 34 is'full, switches 1M and 195 are then deactuated. Preferably, an initial batch of about five gallons of desired water fountain solution is made up manually and placed in compartment 26 toa level therein just below the preferably lower preset limit B of liquid level unit 180. Indicator 74 of metering tank 34 is set at the desired water fountain solution setting of concentrate, the main water supply control valve 33 is turned on and'all the switches 191, 103, 165 and 107.

are moved to their norma position. Henceforth, the

operationof unit and the circulation of the fountain below the lower presetlevel limit B of control element 7 160, the circuit'energizing motor 41 of pump is interrupted while valves 194 and 109 are closed and valves 186 and 103 are opened. This momentarily stops feed of solution to the pan. Fresh waterin. line-39 enters compartment 26 through aspirator 38, forming a suction action which draws ,the'selected amount'of concentrate from tank 34 into compartment 26 to be mixed with the fresh Water to give the proper Water fountain solution.

When the solution in compartment 26 reaches the pre-' set upper level A of element 100, solenoid valves 106 and 1% are closed, solenoid valve 104 is reopened to fill tank 34, solenoid valve 16? in line 42 is reopened and pump 49 is energized to pump the solution through line 42 to the associated water fountain pan of thepress. Pump 4d continues to operate until the level of the solution in compartment 26 again falls below the lower preset level B of element lull when the cycle operation of the control system of unit ltlis repeated.

As described above, panel light 111, when energized, indicates that the unit 10 is in the mixing cycle and is operative to preclude deactuation of unit 1% during the mixing cycle. As stated hereinabove, preferably the preselected amount of etch and gum concentrate is fed to compartment 26 before the required amount of water enters compartmentZd. If unit 10 is deactuated during thi mixing cycle, upon re-actuation, pump 40 will send a stronger water fountain solution to the press than de sired. Thus, panel light 111 is provided to prevent inadvertent de-ac'tuation of unit 10 during the mixing cycle and thereby insures proper water fountain solution proportions at all times. 7 r

Periodically and preferably weekly, the accumulated sludge is cleared from unit Iii. Both compartments 24 and 26 and tank 34 are drained of their contents through drain lines lltl, 112 and 114, respectively, and compatments 24 and 26 filled with plain hot water above level solenoid valve 117 which, during the cleaning cycle of unit 10, is open and valve 109 is closed. Asdescribed hereinabove, valves 104 and 1% are also opened, the

pump 49 is energized during the cleaning cycle. to effect circulation through those portions of unit 10 contacted by etch and gum solution. 7 g

The hot Water is circulated through the system, overflowing barrier 22 from compartment 26 and compartment 24 and through tank 34 back tocompartment 2s for preferably several hours dissolving any accumulated foreign material. At the end of this cleaning period,switches 191, 103, 165. and 107 are moved to oil position and the system drained of the hot water and entrained material. Unit 19 is now ready for the next re-start of operation.

It will be understodthat unit 10 is provided with a control system which preferably adapts unit It to mix Q fresh water fountain solution in relatively small amounts (preferably about ten gallons) to ensure that fresh solution is being continuo'usly supplied to the Water founsolution is automatically controlled in'response to they tain pan of the press.

It will be further understood that, in the event unit 19 is desired to supply a number of water fountain pans,

the solution feed and return lines of the pans need only be connected, either in common or in parallel, to lines. 7 42 and. 44, respectively, to permit continuous re'circulation of the solution'through oneor aplurality of water fountain pans.

' Thus, there is provided a simple, efiicient unit for supplying the proper water fountain solution from a central supply unit to the water. fountain pan of a printing press in a continuousrrecirculating system. i What is claimed is: v

1. In a device for supplying water fountain solution to thewater fountain pan of a printing press the combination a supply tank having a pair of separate compartments, one of said compartments being provided for holding etch and gum concentrate, means for supplying water to the second of said compartments, means interconnecting said compartments, means for feeding a pre-selected amount of etch and gum concentrate from said first compartment into said second compartment inresponse to the'entry'of water into said compartment to form said water fountain solution, meansrfor feeding saidsolution from said second compartment to the water fountain pan of a printing press, and control means interconnecting said water supply means, said etch and gum concentrate feeding means and said solution feeding means and responsive to the level of solution in said second compartment to maintain the amount of solution therein between predetermined limits.

2. In a device for supplying water fountain solution to the Water fountain pan of a printing press the combination a supply tank for said water fountain solution, means for supplying water to said tank, a supply of etch and gum concentrate, means interconnecting said etch and gum concentrate supply andsaid supply tank,-means for feeding a pre-selected amount of etch and gum to said tank in response to the entry of water into said tank to'form said means and responsive to the level of: solution in said tank to maintain the amount of solution therein between pre-determined limits. V, V

3. In a device for supplying water fountain solution to the water fountain pan of a printing press, in combination:

a supply tank having a pair of separate compartments, one of said compartments being provided for holding etch said hydraulic line between said compartments; 'an aspirator interconnecting, said hydraulic line and said Water supply linefor feeding a preselected amount of etch and gum concentrate from said metering tank into, said second compartment in response, to the entry ofwater through said water supply line into said second compartment to form said water fountain solution therein, a pump for feeding water fountain solution from said second compartment to said Water fountain pan and control means interconnecting said water supply line, said hydraulic line and said pump and responsive to the level of solution in said second compartment to'maintain the amount of solution therein between predetermined limits.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3' wherein said control means includes a first solenoid valve in said hydraulic line between said first compartment and said metering tank; a second solenoid valve in said hydraulic line between said metering tank and said aspirator; a third solenoid valve in said water supply line; a liquid level control unit in said second compartment; and an electrical operating circuit interconnecting said pump, said solenoid and gum concentrate, a water supplyv line to the other of said compartments, an hydraulic line interconnecting said first and second-named compartments; a metering tank in valves and said liquid level control unit and operative in response to the level of solution in said second tank reaching a predetermined lower limit to interrupt the operation of said pump, close said first solenoid valve and open said second and third solenoid valves and operative in response to the level of saidsolution in said second compartment reaching a predetermined upper limit to reactnate said pump, open said first solenoid valve and close said second and third solenoid valves, whereby the amount of solution in said'compartment is continuously maintained between selected upper and lower limits. a

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,583,899 Rippingille May 11, 1926 1,888,953 Humphrey Nov. 22, 1932 2,590,538 Huck Mar. 25, 1952 2,630,010 Miles Mar. 3, l953 2,748,666 Forrest June 5, 1956 2,913,980 Lindemann Nov. 24, 1959 2,961,948 Quinn NOV. 29, 1960 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING WATER FOUNTAIN SOLUTION TO THE WATER FOUNTAIN PAN OF A PRINTING PRESS THE COMBINATION A SUPPLY TANK HAVING A PAIR OF SEPARATE COMPARTMENTS, ONE OF SAID COMPARTMENTS BEING PROVIDED FOR HOLDING CHECK AND GUM CONCENTRATE, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO THE SECOND OF SAID COMPARTMENTS, MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID COMPARTMENTS, MEANS FOR FEEDING A PRE-SELECTED AMOUNT OF ETCH AND GUM CONCENTRATE FROM SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT INTO SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE ENTRY OF WATER INTO SAID COMPARTMENT TO FORM SAID WATER FOUNTAIN SOLUTION, MEANS FOR FEEDING SAID SOLUTION FROM SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT TO THE WATER FOUNTAIN PAN OF A PRINTING PRESS, AND CONTROL MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID WATER SUPPLY MEANS, SAID ETCH AND GUM CONCENTRATE FEEDING MEANS AND SAID SOLUTION FEEDING MEANS AND RESPONSIVE TO THE LEVEL OF SOLUTION IN SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT TO MAINTAIN THE AMOUNT OF SOLUTION THEREIN BETWEEN PRE-DETERMINED LIMITS. 